Debating Doofuses and Love for Aunt Luke

George Bernard Shaw was right!  ͏  ͏  ͏ [expressnews.com]( [View in Browser]( [Tomlinson's Take]( Only 25¢ Get Access to Your Trusted Source for Local News. [Subscribe Today.](   --------------------------------------------------------------- [The trouble with duels]( Sharing your opinion for a living comes with certain obligations, such as hearing out the arguments of those who disagree with you. But nowhere in the job description is a requirement to debate [polemicists](. Over the years, climate deniers, white supremacists and Alamoheads have [thrown their gauntlets](, demanding that I meet them on an intellectual field of battle. They use every playground taunt imaginable to lure me into their traps, whether on radio, television or a stage. But like the mongoose, the wise do not follow snakes into their holes. First, the most vociferous critics tend to be the least rigorous. I’ve never debated competitively, but I am married to someone who has, and she says it's all about the rules. When I pressed one challenger about avoiding a shouting match, he replied: “I, too have no interest in a ‘bludgeon’ fest, but there will likely be passion.” Red flag! George Bernard Shaw said it best: “Never wrestle with a pig because you'll both get dirty, and the pig likes it.” I thought of Shaw when podcast host [Joe Rogan, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and their sycophants began harassing Dr. Peter Hotez](, the virologist who spends most of his time saving millions of lives. Hotez often shares his views publicly because he knows disseminating information is critical for public health, and [he takes a lot of flack](. Hotez angered Rogan by refusing to go on air to debate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the right’s spoiler candidate challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. [Kennedy is a rabid anti-vaxer]( who rejects the scientific method. He, too, relies on passion more than logic. By hosting a debate, Rogan would also create a false equivalency between Kennedy’s tin-foil hat and Hotez’s advanced degrees. If Hotez agreed to a debate, he would give Kennedy the legitimacy he does not deserve. It’s the same reason I don’t debate white supremacists. The best argument against public debates [versus competitive debates]( is that [they rarely change anyone’s]( mind. Research shows the base enjoys listening to their champions, but debates don’t move the needle. Declining to debate, therefore, is not an act of cowardice. Sometimes, it's a public service to deny demagogues a wider audience.   [Photo of Chris Tomlinson] Chris Tomlinson, Business Columnist   --------------------------------------------------------------- What Else I'm Writing [Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, left, shakes hands with Gov. Greg Abbott during a press conference on details of his plan for Texas to build a border wall and provide $250 million in state funds as a ]( [Abbott and Patrick ramrod rejected bills through Lege]( Texas’s governor and lieutenant governor hold good bills hostage to press their bad ideas.   [Wael Sawan, chief executive officer of Shell Plc, speaks during the 2023 CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas, US, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. The global energy industry is facing a welter of uncertainty and change -- driven by the effects of the global pandemic; shifting geopolitics and a war launched by one of the world's major energy powers; high energy prices; supply chain and infrastructure constraints; and economic instability. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg]( [Big Oil reneges on climate promises, invite regulation]( Shell and BP say they will not cut oil and gas production and instead focus on profits over people.   --------------------------------------------------------------- What I'm Reading Must Read: [IEA forecasting oil demand for transportation to peak in 2025]( Total oil demand in 2028 will only reach 105.7 million barrels per day, 7.8 million barrels less than it would have been without electric vehicles. (Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News) Should Read: [Dow’s River: On the Brazos, one chemical company reigns supreme.]( Once the company’s plants are done with the water, they don’t always return it in the same condition. (Texas Observer) Interesting Read: [A doctor's work transformed leukemia treatment. Next up: Helping patients avoid chemotherapy]( (Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News) Technical Read: [Who’s controlling our energy future? Industry and environmental representation on United States public utility commissions]( (Science Direct) Fun Read: [2023: The Best and Worst Legislators]( Who did what in Austin. (Texas Monthly)   --------------------------------------------------------------- Question of the Week Should public figures debate fringe ideas? Reply directly to this email and tell me your thoughts.   --------------------------------------------------------------- Mailbag Last Week’s Question: What’s your favorite story from Texas history? “Moved to Texas at age 28, over a half-century ago. Much liked Frank Dobie's Texas stories. Quick reads, gave snapshots of significant Texas memories but without the thoroughness of a Fehrenbach. Accept the role of myths in the culture. Documentation of the revolutionary period was written long after independence by writers who had a purpose, not necessarily a true historian’s viewpoint.” – Harry Elliott, Houston “My favorite Texas story involves Gail Borden. Not only did he [come up with a process to condense milk](, but he also ran the 10th newspaper in Texas.” – Bill Van Rysdam, Porter “Any tales about (Lt. Gov.) Bob Bullock’s reign and escapades; Santa Ana and the Battle at San Jacinto.” – Wallace Henderson, Austin “I’ll claim the story ‘The Broken Roof that Won a Battle’ about the Comanche attack on Adobe Walls, from the book [Famous Heroes of the Old West]( by William Myers. I received the book as a gift in 1958, and it’s still on the shelf.” – Dan Nixon, Houston “A few years ago, my wife had a Black caregiver who, knowing my interest in Texas History, mentioned that she had had an ancestor in the [Millican Race Riot](. ... That led to me writing a program that I delivered to the Chappell Hill Historical Society. … The story was shocking to me, even sad, that people were like that in 1868.” – Tom Stevens, Chairman, Washington County Historical Commission   --------------------------------------------------------------- The Takeaway Thank you to all of the readers who wrote in support of [my Great Aunt Luke]( column. The positive emails outnumbered the vicious ones by 10-to-1, and while I cannot possibly answer all of them, I find them fortifying. Many of you shared memories of the Aunt Lukes in your families, which was the whole point. LGBTQ people have always been among us, they always will be, and they deserve our love and respect like everyone else. I mention the overwhelmingly positive response not to toot my own horn but to share that most Texans are loving, compassionate people. Our newspaper headlines are filled with stories about the hateful, but they are not the majority or even a plurality. They are a small, vocal minority who hope to spread their bigotry. Thankfully, the opposite is happening. I regularly attend adult drag shows, and the number of non-LGBTQ-appearing people is rising. And why not? The performances are satirical, joyful and a little naughty. They are a genuinely good time, and I promise all ways are welcome. Pride 2023 has only a week left, but the celebration need not end. We have the numbers on our side; we need only come out like our loved ones did.   --------------------------------------------------------------- Share With Your Friends Do you know someone who would like Tomlinson's Take? For the Houston edition, [send them here to sign up](; for the San Antonio edition, [send them here](.   --------------------------------------------------------------- More Newsletters 6@6 Your evening recap of the day’s biggest stories. 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